Sparks (Sparks album)

Sparks, originally titled Halfnelson, is the debut album by the Los Angeles rock band Sparks. The album was first released as Halfnelson, the band's original name, and reissued a year later as an eponymous album by Sparks.

"Halfnelson (album)" redirects here. For the Willie Nelson album, see Half Nelson (album).
Sparks
Studio album by
Sparks
ReleasedSeptember 1971 (as Halfnelson)
July 1972 (as Sparks)
Recorded1971
Genre
Length40:23
LabelBearsville
ProducerTodd Rundgren
Sparks chronology
Sparks
(1971)		 A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
(1973)
Alternative cover
1971 release
Singles from Halfnelson/Sparks
  1. "Wonder Girl" b/w "(No More) Mr. Nice Guys"
    Released: May 1972 (US) / November 1972 (UK)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]

Release

Halfnelson was initially released on Bearsville Records in 1971. Shortly after the release of the album the group changed their name to 'Sparks'. The album was then re-released by Bearsville Records in 1972 as Sparks.[4] The new version of the album featured new artwork that was simpler, displaying the group in more of a classic pose superimposed against a red brick pattern. The single to this reissue "Wonder Girl," became a minor regional hit in Alabama and appeared on the lower end of the Cashbox chart at #92. The tracks "Roger" and "Saccharin and the War" are re-recorded versions of songs from their untitled 1969 demo album, which is erroneously referred to as "The 'A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing' Demos".

Re-issue

Sparks has been re-released numerous times since 1972. It is often packaged with the follow-up album A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing. One such re-issue was released in 1975 to capitalize on the group's success in the UK. This version was titled 2 Originals of Sparks and was packaged as a double-LP in a gatefold sleeve with a 14-page booklet.

The most recent re-issue was produced by Rhino Encore and released in 2008.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wonder Girl"Ron Mael2:21
2."Fa La Fa Lee"Ron Mael2:53
3."Roger"Russell Mael2:37
4."High C"Ron Mael3:13
5."Fletcher Honorama"Ron Mael4:15
6."Simple Ballet"Russell Mael, Ron Mael3:53
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Slowboat"Russell Mael, Ron Mael3:54
8."Biology 2"Earle Mankey3:10
9."Saccharin and the War"Russell Mael4:02
10."Big Bands"Ron Mael, Russell Mael4:16
11."(No More) Mr. Nice Guys"Jim Mankey, Ron Mael5:49

Personnel
Halfnelson
Technical
  • Thaddeus James Lowe - engineer
  • Ron Mael - artwork
  • Larry Dupont - photography
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References
  1. "Sparks - Biography by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Allmusic review
  4. "Sparks Discography - Albums and 7" Singles". graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
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